Sound QualityThe Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) has Fair overall sound quality. Bass has little impact is subdued and deep bass is lacking. Midrange is somewhat grainy, hazy, and a touch plasticky. Treble is subdued, smeared and sizzly, and upper treble is muted. Does a so-so job of recovering room ambience and is somewhat congested. The speaker is monophonic. There is no significant difference between WiFi and Bluetooth sound quality. Best suited for near field listening.
Versatility
Versatility is very good. It's a monophonic speaker, with multi-room support. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and this unit has Bluetooth and can be paired with another Bluetooth speaker but lacks speakerphone functionality. Communications: Has support for calling, texting and messaging - called "Drop In". Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated button to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones and video camera. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio inputs and analog audio output. Audio Tailoring: Has user tone controls. OS Support: Android, iOS and Fire OS. Other connections and features: Lacks USB port but has an integral Smart Home Hub. Display: Has a touchscreen information display. Streaming by voice command: Supports streaming by verbal command of an excellent number of services such as Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-In, and iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Supports voice identity - a feature which allows the account holder with their "voice print" to access personal information.
Ease of Use
Overall ease of use of the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) is Excellent. Wireless setup: Setup using iOS or Android device wireless connection, no app download needed for initial setup and no more than 5 unambiguous (although instructions may be required), password and network id required, steps start to finish that happen fairly quickly. Console controls: Volume controls are prominent +/- with graphical indicators of volume level which are non persistent and easily repeatable via verbal commands and easy to actuate. Also, generates a tone with respect to the level selected with discrete volume changes with the physical controls. Audio mute: Dedicated control but the marking is not the most obvious, clear indication when it is engaged. Microphone mute: Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Requires app to be installed, app installation is straight forward. Once app is installed switching between wireless sources is fairly intuitive within the app. Can't select Bluetooth but Bluetooth can be connected by verbal command to previously paired device - ready to play. App remote: Volume control symbol, then volume slider, lacks index markings so not easily repeatable, but easy to actuate. Shown for currently playing streamed WiFi music. Mute: (Remote) Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged and mutes the line input. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.
